Monocycle



Jan. 7, 1 969 DlTTMAN 3,420,545

MONOCYCLE Filed 001;. 26. 1966 INVENTOR. PAUL E. DITTMAN Avenue/ I United States Patent ()flice 3,420,545 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This monocycle comprises a large wheel formed with an internal circular track on which roll three small wheels that are carried by an arcuate frame, which carries two of the small wheels at its opposite ends. A bar is pivoted to the frame at opposite ends on the axes of rotation of these two small wheels so that it will remain horizontal as the large wheel revolves. A seat is slidably mounted on the bar to enable the operator to shift the center of gravity of the vehicle thereby to control its speed. Two foot rests, pivoted to the frame, carry a brake that can be engaged with one of the small wheels to brake the vehicle. Handle-bars are also carried by the frame.

This invention relates to monocycles, and more particularly to a monocycle that is especially suited for sport purposes.

In temperate climates the snow disappears from the ski slopes in the spring months, and does not return until late fall. In the summer months these slopes are not used; and the associated ski lift equipment generally remains idle, except in a few instances where it is used for sightseeing purposes. A ski slope and its lift and associated equipment represent ordinarily, however, a very considerable investment. It is desirable, therefore, to put these valuable slopes and their equipment to some use in summer. Since ski slopes are usually free of stumps, boulders and like obstacles, they present ideal downhill surfaces for monocycle coasting, racing etc.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved monocycle, which is sturdy, relatively simple to operate, and particularly adapted for use on ski slopes during the skiing off-season.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved monocycle having means for shifting the center of gravity of the cycle, thereby to control the downhill coasting speed of the cycle.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved monocycle in which change in the coasting speed of the cycle may be effected by shift of the position of the operator.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a monocycle made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, parts of the cycle being cut away and shown in section; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, the monocycle 11 comprises a large wheel 12, which may be made of steel, and which may be rubber-tired if desired. Intermediate its ends wheel 12, which may be seven feet or more in diameter, has a radially inwardly projecting ring flange 14. Mounted within the wheel 12 is a resilient, generally U-shaped frame 16. The frame 16 carries three small wheels 20 which ride on flange 14 and rotatably support the frame on wheel 12. Shafts or pins 18, which extend across forks 19 at opposite ends of the frame, carry two of the wheels 20. A third wheel 20 is mounted to rotate on a further pin 18, which extends across a slot 23 formed in frame 16 intermediate its ends. In its periphery, each wheel 20 has a circumferential groove 21 that has rolling engagement with the flange 14. The wheels 20 may be made, for instance, of Delrin or nylon and may be about ten inches in diameter.

The forked ends of frame 16 are connected to one another by a rigid bar 25, opposite ends of which are furcated, as at 26, so as to straddle the wheels 20 carried at the two ends of the frame and pivotally mount the bar on the frame.

Mounted to slide on the rod 25 is a sleeve 28. Pivoted at its forward end to a lug 29, which projects upward from the sleeve 28, is a seat 30. At its rear end the seat 30 is connected in conventional manner by a compression spring 32 to the upper side of the sleeve 28.

Secured at their inner ends to opposite sides of the frame 16 forwardly of the seat 30 are two hand grips or handlebars 34.

Pivoted by pins 36 to opposite sides of the frame 16 beneath the handlebars 34 are two pedals 38. Adjacent their pivoted ends the pedals 38 are connected to one another by an integral, transversely extending rib 40, the under side of which may be provided with an arcuate braking surface 42, which is engageable with the periph eral surface of the adjacent wheel 20. A compression spring 44 interposed between the rib 40 and the frame 16 pivots the pedals 38 about pins 36 in a direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) normally to keep the braking surface 42 disengaged from the wheel 20.

In use on a ski slope S (broken lines in FIG. 1) or the like, the operator sits on the seat 30 with his or her hands on the handlebars 34, and with his or her feet on the brake pedals 38. The monocycle is then started downhill. The ou.er wheel 12 rotates relative to the frame 16, so that the operator remains upright as the monocycle coasts down the slope. To steer the monocycle, the operator leans either to the right or to the left. To slow the monocycle down, the operator pushes on the handlebars 34 to push the seat 30 toward the right in FIG. 1 and/ or away from the center of rota:ion of the cycle. This causes the operators weight to be shifted toward the surface of the slope S, thereby reducing the resultant downhill force exerted on the monocycle. Simultaneously, the operator should push down on the brake pedals 38 to force the curved braking surface 42 frictionally into braking engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the adjacent wheel 20. This wheel 20 in turn will then have sliding, frictional contact with the flange 14 on the outer wheel 12, thereby slowing down the rotation of the latter.

To increase the speed of the monocycle, the operator releases the pressure exerted on the brake pedals 38, and

pulls the seat 30 forwardly on the bar 25, or towards the left in FIG. 1 to shift the operators weight toward the center of rotation of the monocycle.

The U-shaped frame member 16 is resilient, so that the three wheels 20 carried thereby have a spring fit with the rib or flange .14 on the outer wheel 12, whereby the three wheels 20 tend to obsorb any radial shock loading of the wheel 12, and tend to prevent distortion of this wheel, and also retain engagement with the outer wheel when it is deformed by bumps. Preferably the frame 16 is sufiiciently resilient so that the uppermost wheel 20 in FIG. 1 may be sprung into or out of engagement with the flange 14 on the outer wheel 12, when it is desired to dismantle the monocycle. Although frame 16 has been described as being a one-piece U-shaped member, it is anticipated that the frame may be made in two pieces, which may be pivotally connected one to the other, as for example, at the uppermost of the pins 18 illustrated in FIG. 1. Instead of steel, it is possible to construct the outer wheel 12 out of laminated material of the type now commonly employed in the manufacture of various types of snow skis. Also instead of engaging a wheel 20, it is anticipated that the pedals 38 may be constructed to engage the lower ends thereof with the inner peripheral surface of the outer Wheel 12 to effect the braking. Moreover, any conventional brake linkage may be tied to the foot pedals or handlebars as on aircraft or bicycles for convenient operation.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the applicant has provided an improved monocycle having relatively simple and reliable means for controlling both speed and direction of the cycle as it coasts downhill. Unlike prior monocycles, which required rather elaborate braking mechanisms for slowing down the cycle, applicants novel cycle utilizes the shifting of the seat to effect wholly or in part change in speed. Moreover, by employing a sturdy outer wheel 12, and a resilient, inner frame 16 for supporting the operator within the wheel .12, applicant has provided a monocycle which can be used safely on reasonably rugged terrain.

While the invention has been described in connection with use on a ski slope, it will be obvious that the monocycle can be used advantageously on any slope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A monocycle comprising an outer wheel having an internal circular track,

a frame,

a plurality of small inner wheels rotatably mounted on said frame to rotatably support said frame on said track,

a seat on said frame for supporting an operator on said frame,

means mounting said seat on said frame for movement by the operator selectively toward and away from the center of rotation of said outer wheel, thereby to increase and decrease, respectively, the downhill coasting speed of the monocycle,

braking means mounted on said frame and movable by the operator to engage and brake one of said small wheels,

said frame being a resilient, generally arcuate member,

a bar secured to and extending between opposite ends,

respectively, of said frame, and

said seat-mounting means comprising a member connected to said seat, and slidable on said bar between said opposite ends of said frame.

2. A monocycle as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said braking means comprises a pedal pivoted at one end to said frame, and overlying at its opposite end one of said inner wheels, and

(b) said pedal has an undersurface which is frictionally engageable with the periphery of said one inner wheel to brake the latter.

3. A monocycle as defined in claim 2, wherein a pair of handlebars are secured to and project from opposite sides of said frame above said one inner wheel and toward said seat,

each of said inner wheels has a groove extending around its periphery coaxially thereof, and

the track on said outer wheel comprises a radially inwardly projecting ring flange, integral with said outer wheel, which projects into said grooves in said inner wheels.

4. A monocycle comprising an outer wheel having an internal circular track,

afrarne,

a plurality of small inner wheels rotatably mounted on said frame to rotatably support said frame on said track,

a seat on said frame for supporting an operator on said frame,

means mounting said seat on said frame for movement by the operator selectively toward and away from the center of rotation of said outer wheel, thereby to increase and decrease, respectively, the downhill coasting speed of the monocycle,

braking means mounted on said frame and movable by the operator to engage and brake one of said small wheels,

said track on said outer wheel comprising an integral ring flange on the inner peripheral surface of said outer wheel,

said frame comprising a resilient arcuate member,

a plurality of inner wheels rotatably mounted on said frame, and having in their peripheries circumferential grooves that have rolling engagement with said flange to support said frame rotatably in said outer wheel,

a rigid bar secured to and extending between opposite ends of said frame,

a pair of handle bars secured to and projecting from opposite sides of said frame toward said seat, and

said seat-mounting means comprising a sleeve connected to said seat, and slidable on said bar toward and away from said handlebars and said center of rotation of said outer wheel.

5. A monocycle comprising a relatively large diameter outer wheel,

a frame,

said outer wheel having an internal circular track,

a plurality of small wheels mounted rotatably on said frame to roll on said track,

a bar pivotally mounted at opposite ends on said frame so as to remain horizontal as said outer wheel revolves,

a seat for the operator mounted to slide horizontally on said bar to be shiftable selectively toward and away from the center of said outer wheel, and

braking means mounted on said frame and movable by the operator into engagement with one of said small wheels.

6. A monocycle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said frame is arcuate and concentric with said outer wheel,

two of said small wheels are rotatably mounted on said frame at opposite ends thereof, and

said bar is pivotally mounted on said frame at its opposite ends to pivot on the axes of rotation of said two small wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,786 6/ 1894 Finch 280-207 591,025 10/ 1 897 Tolson 280-207 948,859 2/ 1910 Jackulvis 280-207 1,316,408 9/1919 Babb 280-207 1,625,327 4/1927 Moore 280-207 2,019,728 11/1935 Ranck 280-207 2,107,766 2/1938 Rose -10 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,952 5/ 1884 Germany.

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner. 

